Mirante do Caeté in Prainha - RJ: where is it and how to get there

The Municipal Natural Park of Prainha, also known as the Municipal Ecological Park of Prainha is a find right next to one of the most beautiful beaches in the city of Rio de Janeiro. For those who do not know this corner of the wonderful city it is worth reading the post until the end, because I will tell you exactly what to do and how to get there and walk the Mirante do Caeté.

How to get

To start, I need to tell you that arriving in Prainha (and consequently at Mirante do Caeté) is not one of the easiest things in the world, but what an isolated place, with a lot of nature that is? Just to give you an idea, Prainha is after Praia da Macumba and before Praia de Grumari.

For those who do not know the region, this means that, coming from the South Zone, you need to go through Leme, Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, São Conrado, Barra da Tijuca, Reserva, Recreio, Pontal (for those who remember Tim Maia's music , this is where it ends), only to then pass by Macumba beach and arrive at Prainha, whew!

But for you not to be discouraged, let me tell you that despite the distance, it is very worthwhile to go through this route. To improve, there are two main transport options, which are listed below:

Bus:

As the site is an area of ​​environmental protection, there are no common bus lines there, but for the general happiness of adventurers, surfers and nature lovers, one possibility is the Surfbus (to see all the details visit the website). The main points you need to know are:

• Departures from Largo do Machado at 7:00 am, 10:00 am, 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm
• Departures from Mirante da Prainha (direction Zona Sul) at 8:30 am, 11:30 am, 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm
• A very important detail is that the bus was out of operation due to an exchange of sponsorship with the project organizers, so for more information:
• Facebook page (send a message over there)
• Telephone - 3546-1860
• Bus Telephone - 9799-5039

For the more adventurous, you can get off at Recreio Shopping, which in addition to the normal lines, also has a BRT station. In this post by peter pan disciples he gives some tips on how to get a ride to get there. If you prefer, taxi is also an option.

Car:

If you have the possibility to go by car, know that there is parking directly in front of Prainha and a little earlier too (close to the place to reach Praia do Secreto). The path is simple, just follow the edge of. Barra da Tijuca or, if you go along Avenida das Américas, exit towards the road to see. Alceu de Carvalho.

Although it is a more comfortable option, it can let you down depending on the time you go for 2 reasons. The first and most peaceful is that the parking lot is full and there is a lot of traffic, but even here you can still get there. The second and slightly worse reason is when the space is full and the entrance is closed to vehicles. In that case, you will end up staying on the pontal beach or going home.

What to see and do

In my opinion, as I already told you, Prainha  in Rio de Janeiro   is the most beautiful beach in the city, so the truth is that going there just to relax is already a great option. Now, if you are an adventurer and like a good dose of adrenaline, you have some really cool options:

• Surfing in Prainha - this is perhaps one of the most sought after options, as it is a place with good waves and a natural corner that is much sought after by surfers.
• Catching Alligator - if you are not a surfer, but you like the sea, you can venture into the alligator (bodysurfing), which as the name suggests, is when you go down the wave with your body alone (and a duck to help every now and then When).
• Mirante do Caeté Trail - Below I will talk a little more about the trail, which is an excellent option to do an exercise ending with an incredible view.
• Bike by the Edge - Another option is to take a bicycle ride along the edge of RJ. An excellent source of information is the blog of the carioca duo, which indicates the rent near post 5 in Barra and about 40km of pedaling, check it out.

Now let's get to the most important thing, which is to tell you about the trail, which is what I'm here to do.

Caeté Viewpoint Trail

The trail from Mirante do Caeté, in addition to being easy, takes you to one of the best views from the edge of Barra to Macumba (I'm already there). The tour is very nice and can be done together with a good swim in Prainha to refresh at the end of the trail.

resume

• Average time of Caeté Trail: from 20 to 30 minutes
• Distance: 800m
• Height: 130m
• Route: Prainha Municipal Natural Park - Mirante do Caeté
• Difficulty: Light

So let's start by talking to those most interested in the trail. To get to the caeté viewpoint you need to enter the Prainha Municipal Natural Park, your address is Avenida Estado da Guanabara, s / nº - Estrada para Grumari and your visitation hours are from 8 am to 5 pm (until 6 pm in the summer). Its entrance is right in front of the beach and the parking too. There is not much mystery, if you have doubts just ask someone, but if you look for this entry here, you will surely find it.

The park has a good structure, with bathrooms, showers, water fountain and even a playground for children.

From there, just start the trail, which is very simple and presents no major difficulties. Basically you will have a good path going up, then going down and going back up. You may think you got lost, but that's it, just stay on the trail.

After about 15 to 20 minutes walking you start the final part, which is a steeper climb. During this climb, in some moments you start to have a nice view of Prainha (like the image below). This is a good sign that you are already close.

A little more and you arrive at the structure of the viewpoint of Caeté, see:

The coolest thing (if you are not afraid and very VERY careful) is to climb the rock (the one that is there in the photo above). From there you can have the view that I talked about so much throughout the post.

In my opinion, one of the best in the region, being able to visualize in order, Secreto, Macumba, Pontal and, in the background, Recreio and Barra da Tijuca.

Now, it's time to enjoy the view, go back and take a nice dip in Prainha, which, as I said, is one of the most beautiful in RJ.

Rafa's tricks

Some tips to make your visit to Prainha and Mirante do Caeté more pleasant and less stressful are:

• Get there early (really) - I even commented, but because it is an environmental protection area, when it gets full enough, the road for cars is closed, that is, you may end up being left out for not having woken up early. Just so you know, early in the morning it is at most 8:30 (and it is already risky).
• Lunch / Snack - In Prainha there are two options of kiosks and, if you are interested in good options (and driving), you can go to Grumari or Barra de Guaratiba.
• Another viewpoint - in addition to the Mirante do Caeté, a much more accessible one is the Mirante da Prainha, which offers a beautiful view (a little closer to sea level).

A little more of the Prainha Ecological Municipal Park

This park was created in 1999 after a demand from surfers and bathers who frequented the region and mobilized to prevent the construction of a condominium on the site.

The area of ​​the Prainha municipal natural park is bordered by the Prainha waterfront and the coastal slopes of Morros do Caeté, Boa Vista and Pedra dos Cabritos, integrating the Pedra Branca Municipal Park.

One last curiosity is that caeté means virgin forest in the Tupi language. Enjoy this beauty of nature!

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Mirante do Caeté a must-visit spot in Prainha, and what type of environment can visitors expect to navigate?

Mirante do Caeté is known for its breathtaking views of Prainha’s natural landscape and the Atlantic Ocean. The environment is typically coastal rainforest, offering a tranquil escape with a relatively easy hike to the viewpoint.